Steel Hammer By Kia Corthron, Will Power, Carl Hancock Rux, and Regina TaylorMusic by Julia Wolfe performed by Bang On a Can Directed by Anne BogartScenic and costume design, James Schuette; Lighting, Brian H. Scott; Sound, Christian Frederickson; Stage Manager, Ellen Mezzera; Dramaturg, Steve MouldsPerformed by Bogart’s Saratoga International Theatre Company (SITI) company founded with Tadashi Suzuki in 1992 Cast: Eric Berryman as John Henry, Patrice Johnson Chevannes (Polly, his wife), the ensemble Akiko Aizawa, Gian-Murry Gianino, Barney O'Hanlon and Stephen Duff Webber38th Huumana Festival of New American Plays Louisville Kentucky, February 26 to April 6, 2014

At two hours with no intermission Steel Hammer the avant-garde deconstruction of the traditional ballad "John Henry" was physically and emotionally demanding. The company Saratoga International Theatre Company (SITI) was co founded in 1992 by the Japanese master Tadashi Suzuki and Columbia University professor and director Anne Bogart. After the first five years Suzuki ceased participation but the company continues to follow the Suzuki method which entails cult like discipline and dedication.

One man enters and strikes a pose stretching and extending at an oblique angle. Soon he is joined by an ensemble that includes: Eric Berryman (John Henry) and Patrice Johnson Chevannes (Polly), who are guest artists for this production, then the regular company members Akiko Aizawa, Gian-Murry Gianino, Barney O'Hanlon and Stephen Duff Webber.

There are many cooks concocting the heady broth that is the multi-media drama Steel Hammer. The first of four, approximately half hour segments sees the cast moving through a series of sharply punctuated postures. With a more psychological edge the poses and actions recall Tai Chi. They signify aspects of the legendary John Henry's story: manual labor, captivity, struggle, and death.

Over the four sections many different aspects of movement and music are explored. There is the hauntingly minimalist score by Julia Wolfe which inspired the piece. A segment that is “acted” with text explores the back story of the legendary black convict on a work gang who died in a contest to beat a steam hammer.

Elements of clog and step dancing are included as well as Berryman in a virtuoso demonstration of hambone, or hand jive that entails syncopated rhythmic hand clapping and body slapping. In another sequence the performers race around a circle evoking the frenzied, physically exhausting contest between man and machine that ends in his death.

There was a wide vocabulary of movement. Some of the most riveting images came when the actors linked arms or joined to form a snaking mass. It was a more elemental aspect of the familiar acrobatics and contortions of Pilobolus Dance Company.

In addition to the score by Wolfe that stretches out the traditional folk song to album length the production was inspired by recent historical research. Scott Reynolds Nelson's 2006 book "Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend," states that John Henry was based on a real character: John William Henry, a New Jersey–born free black man who went to Reconstruction-Era Virginia.

Following the disaster of Reconstruction life in the South reverted back to what it had always been. Now liberated, destitute former slaves returned to plantations as share croppers. There was no essential improvement in the quality of their lives. Like many John Henry was convicted of trumped up charges, given a long sentence, and pressed into a chain gang. Wardens of prisons routinely leased convict labor.

It is likely that the historical John Henry worked hammering holes into granite for blasting of a tunnel constructed by the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) railroad.

The production which premiered in Louisville evolved in a complex manner. Initially there was a dialogue between Humana Festival artistic director, Les Waters, and the composer. He suggested the renowned director Anne Bogart. They in turn enlisted the authors of the production's text—Kia Corthron, Will Power, Carl Hancock Rux, and Regina Taylor.

Including a Humana dramaturg, Steve Moulds, with the cast of actors, they developed the complex multi layered work. The resultant piece while intriguing in its many elements is demanding on the performers as well as the audience. With often slow and repetitive passages the running time of some two hours taxes one’s patience and endurance.

In dialogue with a senior critic who hated the piece I suggested that the tedium might be a metaphor for the passion and suffering of John Henry. His response was that making the audience suffer does not make for great theatre.

It is also possible that responses to the work were divided between those with more traditional paradigms for theatre and individuals willing to embrace new and expanded forms of expression. I wondered, for example, if the production would have had a different reception at Jacob’s Pillow, with its mélange of dance/ movement. Or at BAM the venue for avant-garde, multi media productions by Philip Glass and Robert Wilson. Though less sophisticated as dance the piece reminded me of recent polemical theatrical works by Bill T. Jones. Text and story telling have become an ever more prominent aspect of his choreography.

To see Steel Hammer in a proper context one must be willing to accept that there is ever more cohesion and cross referencing between text, dance and music.

By the way, just as it was in Ancient Greek Theatre or, in the case of Tadashi Suzuki (born 1939), drawing on the Japanese traditions of Kabuki and Noh. That combined with aspects of martial arts movements conflates as the unique Susuki Method which is adhered to by Bogart’s SITI company.

The Suzuki method of acting has been taught at schools such as Julliard, Columbia and the Royal Shakespeare Company. It builds an actor’s awareness of the body, especially its center. The method uses exercises that are inspired by Greek theater and martial arts and require great amounts of energy and concentration. They result in the actor becoming more aware of natural expressiveness and allows commitment to the physical and emotional requirements of acting.

Earlier in the week there was a special session on collaborations. A founding member of Bogart’s company fought back tears when discussing the degree of commitment and discipline that had entailed over many years. More than the usual theatre company it is a lifestyle of constant physical and emotional training. Because of the aspect of stamina and fitness it is more like a dance than theatre company. And there are similar stresses and injuries.

Following a matinee and preceding an evening performance we encountered Berryman in the lobby. While asking him about the endurance of a double header I noticed a boot on one leg. He explained that his ankle had been sprained because of the demanding foot stomping and clog dancing. Did I notice that he had been shifting his weight and sparing that foot he asked? Not really was my response.

Perhaps if I saw the piece again there would be more possibility to concentrate on its complex and diverse elements. There was some discussion that the piece is headed to New York. Given the chance, yes, indeed, I would see it again.

Within the context of the generally mainstream Humana Festival this was the only work that truly pushed the envelope and provided glimpses of where we are headed for theatre in America.

It helped that through recent years at Jacob’s Pillow we are up to speed with new directions in contemporary dance. That provides a base for what Bogart is exploring. While I have mixed responses to the success of this work and its four part, Rashamon-like deconstruction of a traditional folksong, which is to say a bit of a stretch, overall I am grateful to Humana for providing the experience.

This was a potent reminder that critics have to keep pace with the innovative works of our time. We owe that to the artists, and more importantly, audiences. That can be both challenging and exhilerating.

Reader Comments

"I believe you saw and appreciated many aspects of this play that others missed. Steel Hammer was the play that everyone wanted to see, however since it was performed in the Victor Jory Theatre with only 157 seats, many folks were not able to experience the play with all of the hype! As you mentioned in your review, there were varied opinions about this play. You expressed my thoughts better than I could with your knowledge of theatre and dance. Thank you very much for a beautiful article! "

Posted By: Chrustuine O'Leary on 04-14-2014, 10:39 am

"Well done! Like many in the audience, this was my first time experiencing a SITI Company performance. I appreciated the visual stage pictures, and the acting, especially on the part of Patrice Johnson Chevannes and Berryman. Never would I have imagined that he did that amazing performance with an injured ankle. I see why the SITI Company is held in such reverence by so many. "

Posted By: lorraine treanor on 04-13-2014, 11:27 am

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